The PreSonus StudioLive 16 Series III Digital Mixer is designed for live sound reinforcement, live recording, and studio recording applications. In its third released version, the mixer features an integrated hardware and software system with 17 touch-sensitive, motorized faders and 17 recallable XMAX preamps. The redesigned digital Fat Channel was re-engineered from the ground up and features vintage-style EQs and compressors on every channel, recallable scene presets, virtual sound check, remote control using a Windows computer, Mac, or iPad, remote monitor mixing using an iPhone or iPod Touch, and all the software you need for live mixing, recording, and distributing your music online.

The unit features 24 total inputs with eight +48V phantom powered XLR XMAX microphone preamplifiers and 8 mic/line inputs via XLR-1/4" combo jacks. Additional inputs include four 1/4" aux inputs and a dedicated XLR talkback mic input with phantom power. The mixer includes a balanced XLR mono output, a left and right pair of balanced stereo XLR main outputs, 6 XLR mix outputs, four 1/4" mix outputs, and a pair of 1/4" monitor outputs. A digital output of the main mix is available via XLR AES/EBU. Additionally, unbalanced stereo RCA tape inputs and outputs are provided.

For effects, the mixer features 32-bit, floating-point processing with 4-band parametric EQs on inputs, 6-band parametric EQ on outputs, eight 31-band graphic EQs, high-pass filters, limiters, compressors, expander/gates with key listen and key filter, reverbs, and delays.

For mixing, each channel features a touch-sensitive, motorized fader. Users can choose a 1-to-1 workflow, which assigns all channels to the top layer (with one fader per input channel), or a split-layer workflow, which splits the faders between inputs and outputs, including DCAs and aux outputs. The RGB select buttons offer user-assignable colors, while user-assignable buttons are provided for mute groups, scenes, and more. The new Fat Channel control offers 8 scribble strips, encoders, multicolor buttons with a customizable user layer, and a 7" color touchscreen.

The mixer comes with an actively integrated software library. UC Surface allows for touch-control via an iPad, Mac, or Windows computer, while QMix-UC is a free, downloadable app that enables wireless aux-mix control via iPhone or iPod touch. Capture is a multitrack recording software that allows for virtual soundchecks and recording without a computer, and Studio One Artist is a professional digital audio workstation well suited for music recording, mixing, mastering, sharing, and collaboration.